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Charlie Grant
Creighton (8) vs. Kansas State (9) Odds: March Madness Predictions
The last time Creighton coach Greg McDermott won a game in the NCAA Tournament his son and future NBA player did most of the lifting. The Blue Jays don’t have the same type of star talent on this year’s squad but they proved in their overtime win over Villanova they can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the country. Creighton is a short favorite in March Madness betting against Kansas State for the right to lose to Virginia in the Round of 32.
NCAA Tournament Odds and Betting Analysis
Creighton went 10-8 in its Big East games and finished the season with a 21-11 mark (14-16 ATS). The Blue Jays were a force on their home floor (16-2 SU, 10-6 ATS) at the CenturyLink Center Omaha and push overs on the road (5-9 SU, 3-8 ATS). They enter the tournament on an ugly 2-8 ATS record over their last 10 games.
Kansas State won 10 of its first 12 games of the season thanks to a cushy nonconference slate. The Wildcats went fed off the weaker Big 12 teams and lost to the top teams in the league during conference play. K-State went 22-11 straight up and 14-16 against the spread with an 11-18 over/under record heading into this March Madness matchup.
Kansas State Wildcats
Head coach Bruce Weber might have to wave the white flag if any more of his players get hurt. K-State leading scorer Dean Wade was last seen in a walking boot and second-leading scorer Barry Brown had blood coming out of his eye the last time he was on the court. Brown says he’s fine after a nasty poke to the eye forced him to come off the floor against Kansas last week.
Wade status is a little less clear. He suffered a stress fracture against TCU in the first round of the Big 12 tourney and he sat out the game against Kansas.
Creighton Bluejays
The Blue Jays are eighth in the nation in scoring (84 points per game) and shoots early and often from downtown. Creighton averages 10.4 made 3s per outing (11th best in college hoops) and it attempts 27.5 triples per game. Senior guard Marcus Foster leads the team in scoring (20.3 ppg) and is shooting 42.2 percent from beyond the arc.
